This chapter comprises the following subjects: I. The usual salutations,2 Peter 1:1. II. A statement that all the mercies which they enjoyed pertaining to life and godliness, had been conferred by the power of God, and that he had given them exceeding great and precious promises, 2 Peter 1:3. It w... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMON PETER - Margin, “Symeon.” The name is written either “Simon” or “Simeon” - Σίμων Simōn or Συμεών Sumeōn. Either word properly means “hearing;” and perhaps, like other names, was at first significant. The first epistle 1 Peter 1:1 begins simply, “Peter, an apostle,” etc. The name Simon, how... [ Continue Reading ]
GRACE AND PEACE BE MULTIPLIED UNTO YOU THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, AND OF JESUS OUR LORD - That is, grace and peace abound to us, or may be expected to be conferred on us abundantly, if we have a true knowledge of God and of the Saviour. Such a knowledge constitutes true religion: for in that we f... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCORDING AS HIS DIVINE POWER HATH GIVEN UNTO US - All the effects of the gospel on the human heart are, in the Scriptures, traced to the power of God. See the notes at Romans 1:16. There are no moral means which have ever been used that have such power as the gospel; none through which God has done... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREBY - Δἰ ὧν Di' hōn. “Through which” - in the plural number, referring either to the “glory” and “virtue” in the previous verse, and meaning that it was by that glorious divine efficiency that these promises were given; or, to all the things mentioned in the previous verse, meaning that it w... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BESIDE THIS - Καὶ αὐτὸ τοῦτο Kai auto touto. Something here is necessary to be understood in order to complete the sense. The reference is to 2 Peter 1:3; and the connection is, since 2 Peter 1:3 God has given us these exalted privileges and hopes, “in respect to this,” (κατὰ kata or διὰ d... [ Continue Reading ]
AND TO KNOWLEDGE TEMPERANCE - On the meaning of the word “temperance,” see the Acts 24:25 note, and 1 Corinthians 9:25 note. The word here refers to the mastery over all our evil inclinations and appetites. We are to allow none of them to obtain control over us. See the notes at 1 Corinthians 6:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND TO GODLINESS BROTHERLY KINDNESS - Love to Christians as such. See the John 13:34 note; Hebrews 13:1 note. AND TO BROTHERLY KINDNESS CHARITY - Love to all mankind. There is to be a special affection for Christians as of the same family; there is to be a true and warm love, however, for all the r... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IF THESE THINGS BE IN YOU, AND ABOUND - If they are in you in rich abundance; if you are eminent for these things. THEY MAKE YOU THAT YE SHALL NEITHER BE BARREN NOR UNFRUITFUL - They will show that you are not barren or unfruitful. The word rendered “barren,” is, in the margin, “idle.” The word... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE THAT LACKETH THESE THINGS IS BLIND - He has no clear views of the nature and the requirements of religion. AND CANNOT SEE AFAR OFF - The word used here, which does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament, (μυωπάζων muōpazōn,) means to shut the eyes; i. e., to contract the eyelids, to bli... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE THE RATHER, BRETHREN, GIVE DILIGENCE - 2 Peter 1:5. “In view of these things, give the greater diligence to secure your salvation.” The considerations on which Peter based this appeal seem to have been the fact that such promises are made to us, and such hopes held out before us; the degre... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR SO AN ENTRANCE - In this manner you shall be admitted into the kingdom of God. SHALL BE MINISTERED UNTO YOU - The same Greek word is here used which occurs in 2 Peter 1:5, and which is there rendered “add.” See the notes at that verse. There was not improbably in the mind of the apostle a recol... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE I WILL NOT BE NEGLIGENT - That is, in view of the importance of these things. TO PUT YOU ALWAYS IN REMEMBRANCE - To give you the means of having them always in remembrance; to wit, by his writings. THOUGH YE KNOW THEM - It was of importance for Peter, as it is for ministers of the gospel... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, I THINK IT MEET - I think it becomes me as an apostle. It is my appropriate duty; a duty which is felt the more as the close of life draws near. AS LONG AS I AM IN THIS TABERNACLE - As long as I live; as long as I am in the body. The body is called a tabernacle, or tent, as that in which the s... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOWING THAT SHORTLY I MUST PUT OFF THIS MY TABERNACLE - That I must die. This he knew, probably, because he was growing old, and was reaching the outer period of human life. It does not appear that he had any express revelation on the point. EVEN AS OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HATH SHEWED ME - See the no... [ Continue Reading ]
MOREOVER, I WILL ENDEAVOUR - I will leave such a permanent record of my views on these subjects that you may not forget them. He meant not only to declare his sentiments orally, but to record them that they might be perused when he was dead. He had such a firm conviction of the truth and value of th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WE HAVE NOT FOLLOWED CUNNINGLY DEVISED FABLES - That is, fictions or stories invented by artful men, and resting on no solid foundation. The doctrines which they held about the coming of the Saviour were not, like many of the opinions of the Greeks, defended by weak and sophistical reasoning, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE RECEIVED FROM GOD THE FATHER HONOUR AND GLORY - He was honored by God in being thus addressed. WHEN THERE CAME SUCH A VOICE TO HIM FROM THE EXCELLENT GLORY - The magnificent splendor; the bright cloud which overshadowed them, Matthew 17:5. THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED -... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS VOICE WHICH CAME FROM HEAVEN WE HEARD - To wit, Peter, and James, and John. WHEN WE WERE WITH HIM IN THE HOLY MOUNT - Called “holy” on account of the extraordinary manifestation of the Redeemer’s glory there. It is not certainly known what mountain this was, but it has commonly been suppos... [ Continue Reading ]
WE HAVE ALSO A MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY - That is, a prophecy pertaining to the coming of the Lord Jesus; for that is the point under discussion. There has been considerable diversity of opinion in regard to the meaning of this passage. Some have supposed that the apostle, when he says, “a more su... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOWING THIS FIRST - Bearing this steadily in mind as a primary and most important truth. THAT NO PROPHECY OF THE SCRIPTURE - No prophecy contained in the inspired records. The word “scripture” here shows that the apostle referred particularly to the prophecies recorded in the Old Testament. The re... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE PROPHECY CAME NOT IN OLD TIME - Margin, or, “at any.” The Greek word (ποτὲ pote) will bear either construction. It would be true in either sense, but the reference is particularly to the recorded prophecies in the Old Testament. What was true of them, however, is true of all prophecy, that... [ Continue Reading ]